Senator Lindsey Graham honored at state funeral; Russia sanctions advance

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who died suddenly on July 11 at age 71, was honored at a state funeral in Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, followed by ceremonies in his home state on Wednesday. The service in the nation's capital drew President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other international and U.S. leaders, reflecting Graham's prominence on the global stage. Graham's casket was carried by military pallbearers while "Fanfare for the Common Man" played as the service concluded.

Trump delivered remarks at the cathedral, calling Graham "a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon." Trump recalled that Graham was known for his strong support of U.S. military involvement abroad, including in Ukraine and Israel. In South Carolina on Wednesday, Graham's body was brought to the Statehouse where he began his political career in 1993, before a horse-drawn caisson carried his casket to First Baptist Church in Columbia. Military jets performed a flyover, and his burial near Pickens County was conducted as a private ceremony. Graham was remembered by colleagues for his ability to work across party lines and his deep knowledge of South Carolina's communities.

On the same day as Graham's Washington funeral, the Senate advanced his long-negotiated Russia sanctions package in a vote of 86–12. The measure, which Graham had championed in his final months after negotiations with the Trump administration in Ukraine, would impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs and government officials, paired with tariffs of up to 100 percent on major importers of Russian oil and natural gas. Senate colleagues described passage of the package as "a fitting tribute" to Graham's legacy. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker called it "Lindsey Graham's greatest achievement," while Democratic cosponsor Richard Blumenthal noted that Graham was "elated" when the White House agreed to endorse the package.

Graham's death has triggered a special primary election in South Carolina to select a new Republican nominee for his seat. Nine candidates have been certified to appear on the August 11 ballot, including former Governor Mark Sanford, U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, and Graham's younger sister Darline, who was appointed to hold the seat until January. Graham had served in Congress for more than 30 years and was known as a foreign policy hawk who consistently advocated for military intervention and strong support for U.S. allies. According to preliminary findings, he died of an aortic tear shortly after returning from a NATO summit in Turkey and a trip to Ukraine.